Epic Settles Lawsuit with Google, Android Now Allows Developers to Use Their Own Billing Systems
"A new era for choice and openness."
Android announces "a new era for choice and openness" following the settlement of the Epic VS Google lawsuit. This is another victory for the Fortnite and Unreal Engine developer, which has fought both Google and Apple, accusing them of anticompetitive behavior because both refused to let Epic provide its own payment method.
Finally, Google gave in and introduced several massive updates: more billing options, a program for registered app stores, lower fees, and new programs for developers.
"Android has always driven innovation in the industry through its unique flexibility and openness. At this important moment, we want to continue leading the way in how developers distribute their apps and games to people on billions of devices across many form factors. A modern platform must be flexible, providing developers and users with choice and openness as well as a safe experience."
More Billing Options
Google Play is now giving developers more freedom, letting them use their own billing systems in their app alongside Google Play’s billing. They can also guide users outside of their app to their own websites for purchases. "Our goal is to offer this flexibility in a way that maximizes choice and safety for users."
Program for Registered App Stores
The Registered App Stores program makes sideloading qualified app stores even easier, Google says, providing "a more streamlined installation flow for Android app stores that meet certain quality and safety benchmarks."
Basically, users won't have to jump through multiple hoops to install third-party stores. This program will start outside the US and gradually move there, subject to court approval.
Lower Pricing & New Programs for Developers
"Google Play’s fees are already the lowest among major app stores," the company says, adding that they will become even lower with the new business model. It "decouples fees for using our billing system and introduces new, lower service fees."
What to expect:
Billing: For those developers who choose to use Google Play’s billing system, they will be charged a market-specific rate separate from the service fee. In the European Economic Area (EEA), UK, and US that rate will be 5%.
Service Fees:
For new installs (first time installs from users after the new fees are launched in a region), Google is reducing the in-app purchase (IAP) service fee to 20%.
Google is launching an Apps Experience Program and revamping our Google Play Games Level Up program to incentivize building great software experiences across Android form factors associated with clear quality benchmarks and enhanced user benefits. Those developers who choose to participate in these programs will have even lower rates. Participating IAP developers will have a 20% service fee for transactions from existing installs and a 15% fee on transactions from new app installs.
Google's service fee for recurring subscriptions will be 10%.
The changes will roll out in EEA, the United Kingdom, and the US by June 30, in Australia by September 30, in Korea and Japan by December 31, and in the rest of the world by September 30, 2027.
Tim Sweeney was understandably happy to settle the issue, promising to bring Fortnite back to the Google Play Store worldwide soon.
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